Executive Action in Big East

Big East athletic directors put in a full day Tuesday at the conference's emotionally charged spring meetings, concluding their business and then packing for home. Their next task is to file reports with the presidents of their institutions, passing on every bit of information regarding the possible defection of Miami, Syracuse and Boston College to the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Sources told The Courant that a small group of university presidents -- possibly those of the five football schools that would be left behind -- have requested a face-to-face meeting with Miami president Donna Shalala. The presidents would also like to meet with Syracuse chancellor Kenneth Shaw and the Rev. William Leahy, president of Boston College.

The presidents of the 14 Big East schools do not attend the meetings, but several athletic directors -- including UConn's Lew Perkins -- confirmed they have had daily contact with them and that the presidents, including UConn's Philip E. Austin, are already actively involved in the process.

"The process is being taken back to the presidents," Perkins said Tuesday after the meetings. "The key is, whatever we do, [Shalala] has got to say yes or no."

The ACC voted to add Miami, Syracuse and Boston College last week. Miami, with its powerful football program, is the object of desire but the other two schools would come along to give the ACC a 12-member conference to build a power in the Bowl Championship Series.

The ACC is moving quickly with expansion. Inspections of the three schools are being scheduled and could be completed by early next week. If everything is in place, formal invitations could be extended by the end of next week.

During his impassioned press conference Monday, Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese said the decision made by Miami would "drive the wagon." If Miami decides the financial package and stability of the ACC is too good to turn down, Syracuse and BC are expected to follow along in protection of their programs.

"I'm not the person at the University of Miami who knows how [Shalala] thinks," Miami athletic director Paul Dee said during a break Tuesday.

"This has become much more complicated," Dee said. "It's not black and white. I don't know what anyone else is thinking but I know this: I haven't made up my mind and I don't think anyone in our leadership has ... I think we've done everything that has been expected of us."

But Miami isn't the only school feeling the pressure of this decision. The ACC wants a 12-team conference and will not take Miami alone. Miami has clearly identified Syracuse and BC as the two schools to be included in the package. If either Syracuse or BC decides not to go, it becomes a problem. If both decide to remain in the Big East, the ACC plan would likely die .

Syracuse athletic director Jake Crouthamel and Boston College AD Gene DeFilippo spent their breaks together Tuesday, twice taking strolls around the grounds of the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club. Crouthamel left without addressing the media.

"I know you get tired of hearing the same old thing and I wish I could tell you something was new," DeFilippo said. "We continued to have dialogue and discussion and we're headed home."

Perkins said he has had daily contact with Austin, sometimes calling him more than once.

"This definitely goes beyond the athletic directors," Perkins said. "And I can tell you the presidents are totally engaged and totally responsive."

Asked if he is eager for the presidents to arrange a meeting with Shalala, Rutgers AD Robert Mulcahy said: "That's for the presidents to decide. I will simply tell you that the presidents are very engaged in this process. Those are questions for them to answer, but you can read between the lines when I tell you they are fully engaged."

Mulcahy said he toasted Tranghese Monday night before the conference's banquet, held hours after Tranghese questioned Shalala's integrity and condemned the ACC for trying to lure the three Big East schools. Some wondered if the harsh words used by Tranghese would result in an instant backlash. But sources indicated Tranghese's words were filtered through the conference presidents.

Said Mulcahy: "I stood up last night at the dinner and proposed a toast to Michael, on behalf of everybody for the job he has done and the fact that I believe he's the best commissioner in the country and he got a standing ovation.

"Paul [Dee] has been a gentleman about this. I talked to Paul this morning and told him this isn't personal. `It's not about you. I just don't want to be destroyed.' He understands that. And I think he's listened to an awful lot of things that have been said. I've been encouraged by his attitude."

Dee, when asked about Tranghese's comments, said: "Those are Mike's comments and feelings. He is entitled to them. I'd rather not comment." Shalala has been unavailable for comment.

Eight hours of meetings Tuesday concluded with the football athletic directors listening to a presentation from a marketing consultant. Perkins said that presentation was arranged before the expansion issue surfaced and ended up dominating the meetings.

Some attendees said they felt more optimistic than they did when they arrived. Others said they didn't think there had been much change in the situation. But there was clear support of Tranghese and his decision to lash out at Miami and the ACC.

"When you're faced with adversity, you stand up and you fight," Mulcahy said. "You don't back down. I'm not backing down and nobody in that room is backing down. I couldn't make it any clearer.

"There's a long tradition here and to me it's really sad that on the brink of our 25th year, when we have the greatest success of any conference in the country, we have to have these discussions. But I suspect the ACC is very worried about their own football future and they looked around and thought they could make a preemptive strike."